Miami Dolphins

November 6, 1986|By Brian Schmitz of the Sentinel Staff

THIS WEEK: The Dolphins (4-5), riding a two-game winning streak, travel to Cleveland to play the Browns (6-3) in a Monday night game that could begin or end Miami's playoff hopes. The Dolphins are two games behind teams chasing wild-card spots in the AFC.

WHAT'S HAPPENING: The Dolphins released guard Jeff Toews after he failed his physical and placed linebacker Charles Bowser (ankle injury) on the reserve list. Towes injured his knee in a game against the Colts in 1985 and had been on the physically unable to perform list since. . . . The Dolphins will face a Cleveland defense that has given up one touchdown in the last six quarters and 53 points the last four games. The Browns are ranked 12th overall in defense in the AFC; the Dolphins lead the AFC in offense. . . . Tied for first in the AFC Central with the Cincinnati Bengals, the Browns have won five of their last six games. . . . Cleveland lost to the Dolphins, 24-21, the last time the teams met in an AFC playoff game last January. In that game Ernest Byner rushed for 161 yards. Byner is on injured reserve with an ankle injury, and the Browns' rushing attack has slumped to 79.9 yards per game. . . . Quarterback Bernie Kosar is rated fourth in the AFC with an 89.7 ranking. Dan Marino is fifth at 84.7. Marino has passed for 15 touchdowns, Kosar 10. . . . The Browns have their own ''Refrigerator'' in the offensive backfield -- nose tackle and defensive end Dave Puzzuoli, 6 feet 3, 260 pounds. Puzzuoli, who leads the Browns in sacks with four, has been used as a blocking back.

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COMING UP: Dolphins play at Buffalo Nov. 16 before returning home Nov. 24 to play the New York Jets.